微型中国民族乐器

今天在星州日报刊登的一侧新闻中，提到了在武汉的一位67岁老人李凤庭先生

所自造的微型中国民族乐器。个人觉得非常的新奇所以就 Google 了一下，

也在此分享这些小巧又很可爱的乐器。

各位，是不是也很想拥有一个呢？

小小的杨琴也能调音啊~~！

小二胡也能正常演奏！

*所有照片来自中国古筝音乐网

更多相关内容请按此

大选来咯！

大选来咯！推翻暴政咯！大家神圣的一票记得要投给真正能干事的人选哦！

(Eh hem... *装正经一下*)

拉大华乐团在昨天 6 月 26 日（星期三）晚上 8 点在很舒服的 A003 Auditorium 举办了一年一度的常年大会。这应该是本乐团举办的第四次常年大会，主要目的是为了吃免费晚餐和让上一届筹委做秘书及查帐报告，还有投选新一任的筹委员和团长来继续带领并管理整个华乐团。前任主席秦智康同学主持了这一次的常年大会。这次的常年大会虽然出席率不太理想，但是团员们都很积极地参与投票活动。投票活动结束后，这场小小的聚会也就在 9 点半散场了。 以下就是常年大会的小小点滴：

#我们可爱的前任团长为常年大会主持开幕致词感谢大家的到来。#

#被提名主席的“佳丽”自我介绍完毕等待被邀请出去外面被投选。#

#部分参与这次常年大会的团员们。#

经过一场又一场的龙争虎斗投票活动，新一届的筹委员终于诞生啦！前任主席也在场交待了一些小吩咐（音乐室要买厨柜铁架什么的...）希望他们可以在他们任职的这一年完成。至于谁是我们新一届的主席嘛... 就是这位中文系的帅哥啦！

#拉大华乐团新一任主席敲击手陈奕进给大家致词：他希望自己能为乐团出份力，也希望能和大家一起把华乐团搞好，把华乐这么美好的东西发扬光大。#

新一届的筹委员名单如下：

主席：陈奕进

副主席：郑琇铭

文书：李思慧

副文书：张静宜

财政：张敏慧

副财政：格南

理事：黄龙坤，冯俊伟，陈征，

蔡慧敏，何明俐

查帐：秦智康，李麟儿

在这里恭喜各位榜上题名的团员们啦！也希望各位能给与他们 100% 的合作，一起把华乐的魅力散播到每一位拉大生的心里！*拍手拍手*

好书推荐~~~！

偶然之下在大众书局发现的一本漫画。

大家不防去找找看看，虽然这本漫画是比较适合小学生阅读。

但是既然是大马第一本关于华乐的漫画,那就看看也无妨吧~~

Spring Cleaning

Well well... the first intensive ensemble practice for the upcoming concert seems to be quite of a success ! It was held last Saturday and Sunday at Block C which lightens the percussionist's burden to carry all the heavy drums to Block H. (Eh hem...) Other than the current batch of ensemble members, we're all pleased and happy to meet our friends who came for the practice while having their interns far far away AND our alumni COU mates ! We appreciate their effort by joining this practice with us. 

At the end of the day of our practice, the long waited time has arrived: who will be the one staying back and cleaning our music room ?

"我们到时就来看看热心、热血、热情又愿意的来帮忙的团员们一共有多少个~~~真的是一场人性的大考验啊~~~~哈哈哈哈哈~~~~" 

Here's how we cleaned the music room:

Firstly, we moved out every single instrument and items that could be found in the room. And guess what we found ourselves ? Tons of rubbish and surprisingly some snacks treats that help to replenish our stamina ! 

#Eeleen Shan was lifting the giant double bass !#

#All the instruments were taken out from the tiny room.#

#Yang qin, gu zheng and all sort of decorative rubbishes.#

#Bunch of small pieces of papers and dust. Since we didnt managed to borrow any brooms, our creative member came out with an idea by using the dried lemongrass leaves found at the lakeside as a cleaning tool !#

The most stunning item that we discovered in the room was this !!!

#It's an elephant... no, it's a fossil... no, it's a dinosaur... NO, it's a freaking skeleton of a dead mice hiding behind the piano stand !#

After all the cleaning and sweeping, the instruments were all arranged back to the room in a proper position. 

#Ta da !!! I sense freshness and tidiness here !!! Thanks to all those who helped the cleaning and arranging !!!#

#This is the "treat" that I mentioned earlier ! These bunch of people managed to found themselves a can of longan in sugar syrup in the middle of the cleaning and they even utilizes the resource that they found (paper cups) to share the reward ! I wonder how they opened that can though... #

#Lets welcome our newest member in the music room ! *Clap clap clap*#

Personally, I think that we should made this "spring cleaning" into an annual event just before or after the AGM. It seemed to be a very meaningful activity for the members to have an adventure in discovering whats inside the music room. Lastly, a million thanks to those who helped out that day. Your hard work will never be forget as it was already recorded down here !!! 

Ciao~ Photos credited to their respective owners "Spiky" Wong PF and Chin Tsin. =)

The cello guy big day~~

Well well~~~ we celebrated Wei Feng birthday 

last last week during practice session.

and

we bought him a cake with cello on it~~

The birthday boy, Wei Feng

Plucking group members gathered up and sang him a happy birthday song together.

Happy birthday to you~~~ Happy birthday to you~~

See how happy he was~

Now, who's having his/her birthday next?

A song dedicated to Mr. Ryan Choon~~~

Dear all performers going for UTAR convocation tomorrow,

Sing this in the bus~~ Have a nice trip~~~

Best of luck for the performance,

Yvonne Jong

Lyric

(BA BA BA BABANANA BA BA BA BABANANA) NA NA NA AHH POTATO NA AH AH BANANA AH AH TO GA LI NO PO TA TO NI GA NI BA LO BA NI KA NO GA JI~ BA BA BA BABANANA. YO PLANO HU LA PA NO NO TU MA BANANA LIKE A NUPI TALAMU BANANA BA BA POTATO HO OHHHHHH TO GA LI NO PO TA TO NI GA NI BA LO BA NI KA NO GA JI GA BA BA BA BABANANAAAAAAAAA -POWER PUNCH-

Let's see what you've missed out on the trip to University of Malaya!!!!

Hey peoples!

So you heard about the trip to University of Malaya (UM)

last weekend but ain't have any idea how it was like?

Well, i'm here to shed some light for you guys

although i needed someone else to shed some light on me too~!

Hoho~

I just hope that the information i've collected so far

from a number of peoples were enough to serve this post. 

Oh well~ there happens to be two chinese orchestra concerts(1 by UM, 1 by USM)

 held on the exact same date

last weeked and i just have to sacrifice one for the other one.

UM? USM? UM? USM?

If you've read Spiky post on USM's concert you will most likely guessed
 correctly which concert i've went for. 

So, i owned UM a deed here for not going to theirs concert,

for not supporting our ex-CO members, for not supporting our now-on-industrial training member,

for not supporting our own UTAR students.

Yeah yeah, i know you are probably wondering what it got to do with

UTARIANs at UM's concert.

 Read on to find out then!!!

End of grandmother story~~~

__________________________________________________________________________________

Anyway, this post should have clear off my debt.

=____=V

__________________________________________________________________________________

First of all, this trip is make possible by Mr. Lawrence Wong
Clap~~clap~~

Thank for his dedication all this while.

and also the participants!
Without you guys, the trip would've be meaningless~~!!


Thank you for joining us!!!

Hope you did learn something useful!!

Now, for those who wished he/she can go but couldn't

What you've missed out

NUMBER 1

The fun to travel with each others ~~!!!!!

A group photo!!!

NUMBER 2

Great performances you'll not get to watch that often!!!!

Click on image for clearer and larger display

For example, they got~~

Bawu solo performance on 'Fount in Desert' 

Yangqin solo performance on 'Flight of the bumblebee'

Zhong Ruan Duet performance on 'Zhong Ruan Rock'

The duet

Mr. Lim Yik Siang, one of our ex-member

and many more great performances!!!

So, here's some peoples that deserved to be in the limelight
and they are
Dexter Yong from UTAR Setapak, who collaborated with us on our last concert,
Mr. Ho Jing Xian and Mr. Lim Yik Siang, our ex-members aka founders for the orchestra, Mr. Liew Zhiang Ming, current member on a vacation his industrial training at PJ.

and of course, Ms. Toh Hui Ling who is also one of our ex-member.
You'll be familiar with her if you have read her interview post before.

From left: Mr. Liew, Ms. Toh Hui Ling & Mr. Ho Jing Xian 

They have proven to us that music is a never-ending road.
It doesn't mean that after you got out from UTAR, you wouldn't have anymore chance to perform.
The message is clear.
 If you love music, you'll always be embrace by it~~!!


Last, i'll end this post with the whacko infamous guzheng player of our CO....!!
Hope you'll find it entertaining.....~~~

Read more on his site of story here~~!!!

Eh~ behave a bit lar~~ don't forget you are in UM nei~~not UTAR nei~~

P/S~ This whacko here possesed a Grade 9 in GuZheng one~~ Don't play play~~!

USM 理大华乐团第四届演奏会《华乐·流行风》

3 月 4 日傍晚 6 时正，理大华乐团在 Dewan Budaya USM 举办了他们《华乐·流行风》第四届演奏会。这次的主题《华乐·流行风》顾名思义是将中华古典乐器与现代乐器结合在一起演奏出一首首动听的流行曲子。演奏会除了运用华乐乐器，也增加了贝斯吉他（bass guitar），电子吉他（electric guitar），电子键盘（keyboard），小提琴（violin）及爵士鼓（jazz drum）等等西乐乐器。拉曼大学华乐团除了精神上支持他们演奏成功，本团部落格的两位 blog master Yvonne 和 Spiky 也亲自到现场观赏他们精湛的演出。

#演奏会现场。#

#《华乐·流行风》的演奏会入场卷和册子。#

当晚演奏会的曲目如下：

合奏
风铃

Zoobi Doobi - 《Three Idiots》电影插曲

新生合奏

Getaran Jiwa

你知道我在等你吗

掌声响起

明天会更好

弹拨乐合奏

功夫熊猫 Kung Fu Panda

美少女战士 Sailor Moon - 华丽变身组曲

华乐乐坊

追逐 - 女子十二乐坊

泪光闪闪

小手拉大手

纯文艺恋爱 - 《初恋红豆冰》电影主题曲

#在槟城听着这首歌... 回想起《初恋红豆冰》里的故事情节。#

不可能的任务 - 电影主题曲

新歌发表

离开了

新嫁娘

吉他与柳琴协奏

雨后庭院

#原本很华乐的刘琴协奏曲《雨后庭院》，加了吉他和贝斯吉他后会有什么火花呢？#

流行曲

雨下一整晚

摇滚怎么了

串烧流行中国风歌曲

大合奏

愤怒的小鸟 Angry Birds - 季节版 Seasons

那些年 - 《那些年，我们一起追的女孩》电影主题曲

Butterfly - 《Digimon 01 数码爆龙》动漫主题曲

#运用了很柔很慢的引子来带动现场进入歌曲的开头，然后再以充满活力的演奏方式结束了当天的演奏会。#

Encore

CanCan

是的，这次理大华乐团总共演奏了 23 首曲子，其中 5 首曲子是由理大华乐团伴奏、游子吟现唱。理大华乐团的司仪非常棒，他们擅长运用故事情节来介绍曲子内容，同时也插入少许搞笑的舞台剧及广播局来娱乐观众们。

#Dewan Budaya USM 正对面就是我们拉大所谓的"Faculty of Arts"啦。他们学生的作品都会被放在 faculty office 外面供人家欣赏的哦！这个看起来有点像 Alien vs. Predator 里的人物叻... #

#Dewan Budaya USM 前面的一颗大树。理大华乐团我们明年再见啦~#

Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas!

The title pretty much says it all!

Visit the official site for more information.

For the sake of a brighter and healthier future...

.

Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas!

Representatives from UTAR Chinese Orchestra

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year to all~!!!

May we all have a fruitful year ahead!!!!

Tribute to our former member: Ms.Tou Hui Ling

Hi there guys and girls out there who has been watching this space. This is an interview post i've been wanting to do for quite sometime and i finally can post this out. Very much thank you to our former member Ms. Tou Hui Ling who has agreed on this. This post is made possible by her.

Chinese Orchestra Unit has come a long way ever since it was first established and let's not forget the efforts of our former member who worked behind for the orchestra. I always felt that there should be a place where their part of story can be tell so that the current member can appreciate what we have now and not take thing for granted. So, read on to find out about her say~~~

Question 1

Describe what's like being in the orchestra during your time. What instrument do you play? What other instrument do you play?

Back then, there wasn’t even an orchestra. We have to gather some 13 members to form a pro-tem committee for the purpose of setting up the orchestra in Kampar campus. It took us about half a year to get all documents and forms ready, and finally receive approval for setting up the Chinese Orchestra Unit in Perak Campus at April 2008.

After getting the approval, we got a verbal promise from the respective DSA Officer that UTAR would sponsor us our first set of instruments sufficient for ensemble purpose. However, the said instruments were never seen until second half of year 2010. Time was harsh without our own set of instruments. Ensemble members had to use their own instruments or to borrow from secondary school’s Chinese Orchestra Unit.

When there are invitations for performance, the ensemble members didn’t even have a proper place to practice. They ended up practicing at walkways and roadsides at Kampar new town. Due to lack of instruments, weekly practice and classes for non-experienced members couldn’t be held. I myself was one of those left aside to dust as ensemble members putting up performances.

Finally, things started to get better when Petaling Jaya Campus Chinese Orchestra Unit calls for dismissal. Part of the instruments owned by the unit was lent to us. At last, the first class was officially held in May 2009 semester. The first session only consist of four classes held on Saturdays, teaching basic music theory for members without music background. On the subsequent semester, we get our hands on our selected instruments.

With recommendation from one of the experienced member, I chose to learn Zhong Ruan. Other than that, I sometimes play on the Dizi and drums. I’m glad that my passion for mastering the instruments hadn’t vanished after the long wait.

Question 2

How long have you been with the orchestra?

Till completion of studies, I’ve been with the Chinese Orchestra Unit for a period of three years plus. It seems to be quite long, but I personally felt not long enough. If permitted, I would have chosen to stay a little longer.

Question 3

What's the best/proudest moment/achievement you've experienced?

Watching the Chinese Orchestra Unit grows from birth to its age of three, its every achievement makes me feel proud. However, if I were to choose the brightest moment of all, it would be the successful completion of our very first Chinese Orchestra Concert in June 2010. It was the first mega event ever held by us. It was the very moment we receive recognition from both UTARians and the public. It was the very achievement that earned us our first set of new instruments. It was the very event that created unity among senior and junior members, among different instrument groups, and among active and non-active members.

Front row, first left: Ms. Hui Ling 

Question 4

How were the training sessions like back then?

At first, classes are held at Block C, Cafeteria ground floor. It is fine during the day time. However, the place will be all dark and quiet during the night. It was so creepy and scary where there weren’t many members learning the instruments.

Fortunately, things get much better when we were later allowed to use the rooms at first floor which is bright and equipped with air-condition for training purposes. Our first training camp was also held there.

The first training camp, being held end of May 2010, was for the purpose of concert performance preparation, it has indeed strengthen the bond between members of the unit. Practicing all day long has been tough, but we managed it together.

Due to the room later being modified into clinic, we were forced to move. We were reallocated at staff cafeteria, with a storeroom to keep our instruments. Although the room condition wasn’t as good as before, training sessions has been one of my happiest moments during university.

Question 5

Are you still involved in music?

Currently, I’m not associated with any organisations or performing units. However, I haven’t give up in playing and practicing by myself. Big thank you to ex-Vice Chairman giving me his first flute as a present, enabling me to have some instruments to practice on. Haha!

I am planning to get involved Chinese Orchestra Unit around Petaling Jaya, such as UMCO if possible. I am also saving hard to purchase a Zhong Ruan for myself. I do not wish to break the connection with music, especially with Chinese Orchestra.

Question 6

Do you reminisce about the days you were in the orchestra?

Yes, a lot, even before I graduate. Some senior members should know I used to tell “grandmother stories” about the history of Chinese Orchestra Unit. After graduating, I’ve been telling a lot of people, including my current Boss during the interview sessions. It is not that I like to boost around, just that I wanted people around me to understand that Chinese Orchestra is nothing boring, to understand that Chinese Orchestra forms a part of our culture, and to create awareness and support for Chinese Orchestra. Like what current Chairman, Choon Chi Hong always said, being involved in Chinese Orchestra does not just mean everything about ourselves, we also bear the responsibility to carry forward this piece of precious culture we possess.

Question 7

Message to the current members

During my time, I lost 2 years of precious time to master my instrument due to unforeseen circumstances. I neither had much chance to practice because I do not possess my personal instrument. I used to grab every opportunity I could to practice, even if it means coming to practice sessions not belonging to my instrument. Deep within I understand, if I don’t do it now, I may not have the chance when joining the working community. I didn’t want to regret.

However, other members don’t seem to appreciate as much as I did. Some even skipped practices for no reason. Therefore, I hope you would treasure and appreciate a little bit more the moments and chances you have got to do things you enjoy doing, such as coming to Chinese Orchestra. Academic is important, but it would not be everything in life. You don’t have to sacrifice too much on your studies, but please seek a balance in between.

Wondering what you can achieve by involving in Chinese Orchestra? Chinese Orchestra Unit is more than just practices and performances. Chinese Orchestra is an identity as a Chinese, a nurturing plant of psychological strength, a platform for social interactions, a place to escape from stress and tension, a talent and soft-skills training ground, and many more. Too many for all to be listed here.

You may not know how great the effect Chinese Orchestra can bring to your life until you experience it, but I know. From my own experience, I witness my abilities and value grown from nothing to being appreciated, by actively involving in the Chinese Orchestra. All I did was going for practices, performances, social gatherings, and taking up positions I can afford in events. It seems like a miracle, but it does happen. If you are thinking of achieving something in your career, why not start training up yourself right now right here?

In a nutshell, whatever your decisions in the future may be, No Regrets 

拉曼大学华乐团上报啦！

还记得上个星期举办招聘活动第二天，就有个人拿着 DSLR 这里拍那里拍，也在我们华乐团摊子里徘徊拍了几张照片。过了不久他声称自己是为本地英文报 The Star 作报导的，便向我们副主席来了一个小小的采访。采访内容已经登刊并可以在 这里 阅读。


也在同一天（也就是 13/6/2011 星期一），同一个报导也被登刊在 The Star Metro Perak。副主席对此事件感到非常高兴并把整份报导给拍了下来，请点击图片看大图及报导内容。

#华乐团的照片就在右下角，团员们看见了吗？（被拍下来的那两位团员们应该会感到很高兴吧？）#

招聘活动完成了，团员们是时候要为音乐会出一份力了。记得来合奏练习，加油~

Can it ever be too late to give it a try, to give it a whirl, to take your best shot and see where it takes you?

This post was written by Yvonne Jong, just another Utar Chinese Orchestra member who begins her rhythm journey only after she hit 21. She dedicates this post to those out there that has a heart for music but still doubts on self-ability and talent. Hear her thoughts and voice, with the hope that her story will clear your doubts, thus giving you the driving force to hit the road by travelling down your very own rhythm road.

I always love music, from before I can remember. Yet, I read no musical sheet nor do I understand any musical note.

I envy those that can and they never failed to grasp my attention even if all they did was just holding up an instrument in their hands.

I would stop and listen to the blind violinist who performed for money in the street of whom was being blatantly ignored by most passersby.

I found myself slowing down my pace whenever I walked past a house where melody emerged.

So you see, all this while I always watched and starred at those who played music and never give a second thought about trying it out myself. Despite my age, I firmly believe that it was simply TOO LATE for me to learn (That’s what people always tell us anyway) where in fact it is never too late to learn.

Once, I went to a piano fair and there was this absolutely stunning lady (not really, I’m just trying to be nice) who offered to teach me music when she spotted me jamming my itchy fingers on one of the piano. I rejected anyhow. Reasons? 

No time

No money

No transport

Needed parent’s permission

Embarrass to learn at such age

No money to buy instrument

My friends will laugh at me

Afraid that I’m not destined to learn music

No talent….

the list goes on....

All these reasons kept me away from doing the one thing I always wanted to do. Being able to play, understand and learn music. Little did I know that all the reason I’d been giving myself are all nothing but only significant to one thing, excuses… I’ve been giving myself all sorts of excuses simply because I lack the courage and confidence.

In order to learn music, all you need is just a little bit of chance, enthusiasm and a burning will of determination plus a key of persistence. That is! That’s all you need! Forget about talent and forget about what other may think of you. Once you get over with your worries, your fear of failures and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to start learning music. I wish i could have realized this earlier.

I joined Chinese Orchestra on the first week of my degree. It was lunch hour that day and as usual I went foods hunting at Block C. After few minutes walk from Block E and a torturing 3 hours lecture, I was exhausted. I reached Block C just the right time when that there was a recruitment drive held there. I spotted ‘MUSIC CLUB’ and ‘CHINESE ORCHESTRA’ while waiting in line for my order.

Few minute later, I found myself pondered on the thoughts of giving music a try. When will be the best time to learn if is not now? I’m tired of saying ‘It's too late’. I'd been using this reason as an excuse. Since it's too late, there's no sense doing it and so i don't. The next 'best time' to learn is right now!!

Having this in mind, I walked up to the orchestra booth(I'm more into traditional music). My approach seems to be an awkward one because none of them spoke when I asked them to tell me more about their club. A guy finally stood up and cleared my doubts. He seems be a person who has a great passion for his orchestra to me. I felt invited. So, I grabbed his offer and signed up my name.

Times flies and soon mid-autumn was approaching, yet I’m still not involved in anything related with the orchestra until one day they finally broke the silent spell and pasted a notice on the board, asking for orchestra members to attend a meeting. On the day of the meeting, I skipped my class and I patiently sat there

and waited……

20 minutes later~~~

and i'm still waiting....

35 minutes later

Just when I’m about to leave, a girl finally walked up to the front and informed everyone the purpose of the meeting and the upcoming events in November. Sadly, it’s not the news I want to hear. A semester passed by and I ventured into my second semester, but I didn’t hear a word from the orchestra anymore until one day I met an old friend.

She: ‘Hey! How are you? Why I didn’t see you at the orchestra?’
Me: ‘Huh? I thought is a sleeping club?’
She: ‘No. I went for the practice every Wednesday.’

Okay~~~~ so now I see the truth. I’m the one who’d been sleeping all this while.
Since then, I started going for the weekly practices and I never failed to attend week after week of practices. How was my first lesson? One word to sums it all up. Terrible.

The senior almost whacked me with the instrument he’s trying to teach me. My tempo was out and I kept repeating the same mistakes over and over again. I felt sorry for wasting his time. Both he and I were frustrated, but on top of all that I’m determined to get it right. Finally, when New Year is just around the corner, I see a bit of improvement. Now I can assure you that talent is not something one is born with, but is the results of hard work built upon deliberate and focused practices.

Then came year 2010 and this time I found myself drawing on the board of Chinese Orchestra recruitment drive booth. Most of my friends surprised me by signing themselves up that day.

That's the board i'm talking about here.

After one year in the orchestra, my rhythm journey began to blossom.

I got my first ever instrument.

The instrument picking it master.....

Got very frustrated with myself (again and again)

and regain the strength to carry on

Met lot of people. Made lot of new friends.

Had fun during practices.

Slowly taming my flute (Though I still failed to do it once in a blue moon)

Practices from day to night with the rest.

Like I said, all we need is just a little bit of chance and this chance I’m talking about here doesn’t just come knocking on the door itself. You will need to grab it yourself. I’d made the effort to involve further despite the daily routine a typical university student has to go through. Well you know~~ stuffs like meeting deadline for reports, assignments and endless tests marathons. All these can really get in the way sometimes but for me, I would look at it from another angle. I prefer taking an hour break to do things I love the most rather than skipping practices to do things that’s so going to kill millions of my brain cells.

Magic happens when preparation meets opportunity.

The magic moment~~~(Our beautiful conductor, Vicky)

Our '大师兄' anxiously watching behind the stage. Spot him?

I started out much slower than the rest but I know I’m slowly gaining speed. 

Everything begins from zero and the first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.

A group photo with the master of flute. Thank you for everything.

I'm glad that i'd taken my first step in and stopped being a sleeping member of the club. 

Chinese Orchestra always opens its door for you. All you need to do is to take that first step to walk in for you to begin your very own rhythm journey. If you are still hesitating, at least have a thought about it today…

Future conductors????

or future lovebird???? Hahahahahaha~~~~

Last, i wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you guys on Jan 11, 2011. 

^_________^